A rating of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine effective July 31, 2013 is granted.,A rating of 10 percent for right leg radiculopathy effective on July 31, 2013 instead of July 18, 2019 is granted.,A rating of 10 percent for service connection for left leg radiculopathy, secondary to back condition, effective July 31, 2013 is granted.,The case is REMANDED for the following actions: obtain complete VA and non-VA treatment records; arrange for a VA examination to determine the current severity and impact of his service connected back and radiculopathy in both legs conditions.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's medical records show continuous complaints of pain, weakness, fatigue, and lack of endurance related to his lumbar spine degenerative disc disease. The evidence supports a rating of 20 percent for the entire appeal period.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, Right leg radiculopathy, Left leg radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- December 23, 2019
- Citation
- 19195920
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 3,217 · Granted: 46% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 19195920.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his lumbar spine and right hip disabilities due to a duty to assist error. The effective date for DEA benefits is granted as May 1, 2014.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and higher initial rating for his back disability is denied. The effective date remains March 29, 2021, as the earliest date of claim. An initial rating in excess of 20 percent for the back disability from March 29, 2021, is also denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's low back disability and right leg radiculopathy are granted service connection, but left leg radiculopathy is denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.
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